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Glite Dictionary
📉 Fractional frequency 📉 Lower frequency
subharmonic

subharmonic

1 8.9
Relating to a vibration that repeats at a simple fraction of the main tone
  • adjective
  • /ˌsʌbˈhɑːrmɒnɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : subarmónico
  • Engineers often analyze subharmonic signals to optimize the performance of acoustical devices.
  • subharmonic transmissions

Examples

  • And it's got, it has overtones as subharmonics and you have to take all these things into account.

  • The scientist measured the subharmonic frequency of the sound wave to ensure it matched the fundamental frequency.

  • During the experiment, we observed a subharmonic oscillation in the system that differed from the primary wave.

Surface Forms

subharmonic positive

Morphology

subharmonic = harmonic (semi-transparent) = sub + harmonic

The formation 'sub-' + 'harmonic' is morphologically regular, but the precise technical meaning (a fractional relation rather than simply 'lower') is specialized and may not be obvious to general learners.

Etymology

Subharmonic combines sub- meaning 'below' and harmonic, from the same root as harmony meaning 'agreement of sounds'. So a subharmonic describes a lower vibration or frequency that fits the main tone because it is an exact fraction of it.